What can one woman do? … when a woman knows she is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates her mind wonderfully. After Samuel Johnson Climatically, things are not well. The weather is crazy. The coldest Spring on record. Too cold to sit outside – in mid-May! The wettest summer on record is… Continue reading The Heat Dome: What can one woman do?
Tag: Wendy Sarkissian
The Struggle for Little Mountain: Why You Should Help!
The struggle for Little Mountain…and my memories of Little Norway I spent some of my early years in emergency housing in Little Norway in Toronto (right next to the Maple Leaf Stadium). Toronto was experiencing a massive post-war housing shortage and an Emergency Housing Program was implemented, making housing available to returning veterans. It made… Continue reading The Struggle for Little Mountain: Why You Should Help!
Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade
It’s been ten days since the text arrived announcing the suspension of Metgasco’s license to drill for oil at Bentley. Only ten days — and life has changed dramatically for many of us. I search for a word for this new feeling and find an old one: Embolden: “To give someone… Continue reading Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade
Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade
I am old enough to have studied Latin in high school. It helps make me a good speller. A moment of hilarity And today, Latin provided a moment of hilarity in battle to bring Metgasco to see reason about gas mining in the Northern Rivers. The goss now is that Metgasco is encouraging its shareholders… Continue reading Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade
The Sun also Rises
The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place where it arose. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. I’m not much for reading the Bible but I love the odd aphorism. And… Continue reading The Sun also Rises
The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
In mid-2011, a speaker’s agent rang me to say he had an invitation for a good speaking engagement. “It’s with APPEA,” he said, “And you can talk about community engagement.” APPEA. Hmmm. I rang off and logged on. APPEA: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association is the peak national body representing Australia’s… Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
Nimbin, 28 April 2014 It was bucketing rain at dawn at the Bentley Blockade this morning. The blockade against unconventional gas mining. No guitars or drums because of the rain. There were lots of people there but not a lot were singing. Then, magically, about 5 am, a woman with a strong,… Continue reading Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
The Bentley CSG Blockade: Something Changes in Me
First reflections on the Bentley CSG Blockade 21 April 2014 A song has been going round in my head today, after greeting the dawn at the Bentley Blockade (https://northernriversguardians.org/). This is a blockade to prevent Metgasco from drilling for unconventional gas in farmland near Bentley, NSW. It’s Holly Near’s… Continue reading The Bentley CSG Blockade: Something Changes in Me
Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response
“Engagement Done Well” In a few days, Vancouver planner Brent Toderian will be speaking in Sydney, where last year he was training planning bureaucrats in the NSW State Government in community engagement. His conference topic is “Density Done Well”. My topic in the preceding session was “Engagement Done Well”, making the point that density done… Continue reading Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response
Activism in Planning in Australia: A Delicate Balancing Act
I’m celebrating: 2013 was a great year for community activism in planning. In New South Wales, concerted action by many forces, including the Better Planning Network (https://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/fund-the-better-planning-network-in-2014/), resulted in the State Government withdrawing the contentious and flawed proposed state planning legislation. The Better Planning Network has more than 430 community groups and many… Continue reading Activism in Planning in Australia: A Delicate Balancing Act